Match splint



M. POLACSEK MATCH SPLINT Feb. 22, 1949.

Filed March 21, 1946 INVENTOR IlAURtcE LACSEK 12%8 Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCH SPLINT Maurice Polacsek, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 21, 1946, Serial No. 656,057

1 Claim.

This invention relates to matches and in particular to the formation or manufacture of splint-s as employed in matches of the book type.

In the new type of advertising match in which the splint of the match is relatively wide compared to the tip that carries the ignition compound, it has been found that when these heavier type matches are struck, they will ignite in the same manner as the usual book match but there will be a perceptible decrease in the size of the flame due to the fact that the wider portion of the material immediately below the head will take longer to become ignited due to its increased mass.

It is a particular object of the invention, therefore, to overcome this objection by providing in a match splint as used in book matches, means whereby the amount of material in the 'splint immediately adjacent the under side of the head will be reduced by punching or otherwise forming in the material of the splint, openings or flues and an ignition point, so that when the match is struck the spread of the flames to the portion of the splint directly below the ignition end will be assisted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide openings in the splint of the match that constitute air flues, so that combustion of the head will be assisted and will be supported by reason of the fact that the splint becomes thoroughly ignited without a decrease of the flame after the match has been struck.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an opening in the splint of the match which will contribute to the spread of the flame and will produce an inflammable end on the match that will provide a larger flame without increasing the amount of ignition material at the end of the match.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a match book in which my invention is incorporated in the splints.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective of a single match having a triangular shaped opening in the splint thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the advertising type of match to which my invention is applied.

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of opening used at the top of the splint.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the relative positions of the openings in the splint.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line t-E of Fig. 4 showing the relation of one of the splint openings to the ignition material.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged view in perspective of a novel type of opening in the splint providing an ignition tip.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7 showing the action of the flame in spreading to the ignition tip portion of the match splint.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it indicates the cover or wrapper in which a pack of matches is stapled as at H, the pack being made from individual match splints l2 formed on the usual comb strips l3 that are secured in the lower overturned end of the cover It! by the staple ll. While the matches shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are of the well known type in which the splint I4 is of the same width throughout its length, my invention is particularly adapted to the novelty type match shown in Figs. 4-8.

The purpose of the invention is to assist in igniting the splint M by the spreading of the flame from the ignition head [5 which is a compound of the usual inflammable substance molded on one end of the splint l4. To this end, I provide as shown in Fig. 2, a triangular opening l6 formed in the median line of the splint l4 and having its upper edge I! adjacent the lower edge of the ignition compound [5. When the head of the match is ignited, its flame, spreading about the head will pass through the opening 16 which acts somewhat as a flue, and will ignite the splint surfaces bordering the opening I6. Thus the opening l6 provides in a highly inflammable area of the match splint an increased ignition surface which is more readily ignited than the unpunched splint due to the greater area that is covered with parafiin.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, the match splint l8 as employed in novelty matches shaped in simulation of an article as in U. S. Patent No. 1,839,846 is reduced in width as at IQ for receiving the ignition material l5 which is molded thereon. The reduced portion I9 of the splint provides a relatively narrow neck 20 immediately below the head [5 and in this neck portion I have punched or otherwise formed the ignition openings 2| which may be arranged horizontally as shown in Fig. 4 and may follow somewhat the contour of the shaped neck of the match splint.

In this form, when the head is ignited the flames passing through the openings 2i will ignite the neck portion 20 readily so that the upper end of the widened portion of the splint will become full ignited, it being evident that without the openings, the flame Will only engage the sides of the splint and the widened portions of the latter will ofier increased resistance to the quick ignition of the splint.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, I have somewhat varied the invention as applied to the match depicted in Fig. 2 by providing two triangular shaped pen.

ings 22 which are arranged with their horizontal or base ends uppermost so that the inner surfaces or edges 23 of the openings readily ignite and materially assist in the firing of the splint.

In Figs. '7 and 8 I have shown an opening E l cut to define an ignition tip 25 disposed in the center of the opening 24 so that at opposite sides of said tip 25, the openings form fines and as the match is ignited as shown in Fig. 8 the ignition tip 25 will quickly ignite and will cause the paraflin coating thereon, and on the inner edges of the opening, to set fire to a larger area within the upper shouldered portion of the splint.

It is evident, therefore, that I have provided a novel auxiliary ignition means that will assist in the combustion of the match splint and which will provide an additional area that can be coated with paraffin at a point adjacent the match head so that the splint of the match in the heavier Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A match, comprising a splint of flat material having a reduced end portion, a friction ignitable head formed on said reduced end portion, said splint being formed with an opening adjacent said 'ignitable head, and an ignition tip continuing from the material of said splint defining said opening and on the side thereof diametrically opposite said head and extended across said opening toward said head, said tip being reduced in width as it proceeds toward said head and said opening being increased in width in a direction toward said head forming small openings on diametrically opposite sides of said ignition tip.

. MAURICE POLACSEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 506,548 Rockwell c Oct. 10, 1893 1,056,177 Humphrey Mar. 18, 1913 

